Sahvir Wheeler went down again at Auburn and coach John Calipari says if he's not healthy, he won't play against Mississippi State Tuesday. (Vicky Graff Photo)
Tshiebwe insisted he did yell for Wheeler to be ready for the screen — just like he did at LSU. Wheeler obviously did not hear him either time.
“I screamed again,” Tshiebwe said. “It was too loud. He did not hear again.
“It was a good screen. I’m not going to say anything about that. I’ve just got to do a better job of screaming.”
If he doesn’t, Wheeler may not survive because teams are going to keep doing that to make him ease off his full-court pressure. He had 17 points and four assists.
Kentucky coach John Calipari said after the game he was not sure how much Tshiebwe screamed.
“If there’s a (teammate) up there screaming smack-smack-smack!, (Wheeler) will back off and go under (the screen),” Calipari said.
Wheeler stayed on the floor for several minutes before going to the locker room Saturday at Auburn. This time he did return several minutes later and went back in the game. However, he took another shot from Kessler late in the game won by Auburn.
“I’m worried about Sahvir. I told him in the last four minutes, ‘Why don’t you just come out?’ He said, ‘No, I’m going to finish,'” Calipari said after the game.
Not sure why if Calipari was “worried” he did not just take him out, but he didn’t.
“Look, at the end of the day, I’m coaching someone’s child and if he can’t play this week and TyTy (Washington) can’t play this week, they’re hurt. They can’t play,” Calipari said. “Now other guys have a chance to step up and show what they are or what they’re not.”
Washington, UK’s leading scorer, hurt his ankle nine minutes into the game and did not return. Auburn outscored the Cats 64-46 the final 31 minutes.
17 Responses
As I have posted previously on Vaught’sViews, the injuries to Wheeler looked like designed plays by Will Wade and Bruce Pearl. Their 7′ centers left their usual spots near their offensive baskets and went to the opposite end of the court and set picks on the 5’9" Wheeler where he was blindsided and injured. Since both of those coaches have either suspended or are under current investigations, it is not beyond belief that they coached their 7 footers to do this. It should be an automatic suspension from the game and the offending coaches salaries similar to
spearing in NCAA football rules.
Maybe we need to suit up a football player for retribution.
Wheeler is a whirly dervish and plays all out. Reckless at times but makes everyone better. Fun to watch.
I just watched this again. kessler set a high pick that Wheeler ran into. I do not see anything wrong with that play on Auburn’s part.
I think two things cost UK at Auburn.
1) 3 shot clock violations
2) 3 times fouling their 3 point shooter.
2 of 3 were flops
You nailed it Prof.
What cost UK at Auburn was the number of foul shots Auburn got and hit vs the number UK got. A couple of those 3 point fouls they called on UK were suspect. Auburn was fouling as much or more the whole game, and got away with it. Silent whistles is what cost UK. That happens way to much in the SEC when Kentucky comes calling.
Maybe Wheeler should wear a helmet. But if more teams focus on blindsiding Wheeler UK will have to find a way to work around that. Because we have teams in SEC that will set a guy there on purpose especially their biggest guy. I just do not want to see Wheeler with lifelong injuries. He is moving faster than anyone on the court when this happens.
But did you notice when Wheeler was knocked down, the Auburn fans never stopped cheering, very unsportsmanlike which is the way Pearl coaches, dirty!
I did not notice that Barbara. Not a good thing to have happen at all when a player is hurt
Professor???
Look for more of the same from Auburn, They are ranked Number 1
Yes, I would expect Auburn to do more of the same. Kessler was setting that high pick throughout the game.
This is part of the game. I have read that Calipari would like a rule change to stop these "blind" picks similar to the football rule, but until that rule change occurs, if it ever does, what Auburn and LSU did is part of the game.
Therefore, UK players need to be more court aware to avoid slamming their smaller bodies into the wall.
As for the 3 point shooting fouls, the stripes made the calls. I don’t agree with all the calls made in most games, but those fouls were called, and it cost UK 9 points. The shot clock violations was all on the UK point guard aided by the Auburn defense. Championship teams do not make this mistake three times in a single game.
The 3 point fouls and the shot clock violations easily provided Auburn this win, injuries notwithstanding.
Well the stripes called 20 PF’s on the Cats and only 12 against Auburn in a physical game like that from both teams. Auburn was pushing and shoving all day long from where I sat watching, and no whistle. That said, what can you expect from and SEC basketball road game for the Cats? Auburn got 29 FT attempts to UK’s 10. Home cooking looks like to me. Like Cats79 said, great acting jobs on a couple of the three point attempts from Auburn shooters. Yeah, the shot clock violations was on the point guard, but it was as you noted great defense too, and UK returned the favor as well since Auburn had a few shot clock violations also. UK is not going to ever get a fair shot on the road in this league IMO.
Thanks Professor
I guess I should keep my views to myself and listen to you guys
Unless we are running a trap press, there is no point in Sahvir pressing a man bringing the ball up the floor alone. That almost never results in a turnover, but almost always invites a big man screen that is far enough away from the basket that prevents Oscar from being able to call Shavir off the press. There was nothing wrong with either of those screens. We just need to be smarter on the floor.
I think I have to be smarter and stay out of these kind of discussions. Thank you Whodat
You keep commenting Claude. We appreciate you
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